Fighting for trans rights at Bristol pride

Socialist Party members at Bristol Pride, 14.6.18, photo by Mike Luff (Click to enlarge)

Maddy Steeds, Socialist Party LGBT+ group

The biggest Bristol Pride yet took place on the 14 June. Following the attempts by anti-trans rights campaigners to hijack London pride, Bristol Socialist Party was out campaigning to support trans rights and fight for the rights of all LGBT+ people and oppressed groups in society.

Our message of supporting trans rights and fighting for the right to self-identify your gender was strongly supported by the crowd. Our material pointed out the need to build a united working class struggle as the way to ultimately end all forms of oppression.

500 leaflets were given out and one passerby said "I'm so glad to see you here after the events at London Pride".

On the day we sold badges and painted rainbows on people's faces in exchange for a donation. Over £50 was raised for the Socialist Party.

The depoliticisation of Pride has meant many people go to Pride to party rather than protest. However our success in Bristol shows that people at Pride are open to socialist ideas and see the need for Pride to be political.